July 22nd, 2018 - 16th Sunday of OT - Big Picture View of the Parts of the Mass - Mass Series #5

When I first returned to the Mass after being away, I had difficulty understanding what was happening. It would have been helpful to me, if I knew what the big picture or major parts of the Mass were. In my homily, I share with you what would have been helpful to me.

Readings:JER 23:1-6; PS
23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6; EPH 2:13-18; MK 6:30-34

This homily was the 5th in the series. Click on the links below for the other homilies.

The information below is not the homily, but is a combination of multiple related bulletin articles.

Structure of the Mass

The
structure of the Mass goes all the way back to the Apostles.There are two major parts:The Liturgy of the Word and The Liturgy of
the Eucharist.Two minor parts act as
book ends to the Mass:The Introductory
Rites and the Concluding Rites.

INTRODUCTORY
RITES

We
prepare ourselves to enter into the sacred mystery of the Most Holy Sacrifice
of the Mass.These rites include the
Procession, Sign of the Cross, Penitential Act, Kyrie, Gloria, and Collect.

THE
LITURGY OF THE WORD

After
the Collect we sit to meditate on a series of Biblical readings. Although the
words we hear have been fixed in writing, we remember that they are the
inspired Word of God and are truly alive (Heb 4:12). Through these readings,
God intends to speak something new to us at this moment. We recall that the
Word of God is not a book or a doctrine, it is a Person, Jesus Christ.These readings include a First Reading,
typically from the Old Testament (except during Easter), the Responsorial
Psalm, the Second Reading, which is always from the New Testament, and a
passage from one of the four Gospels.

The
homily is meant to explain or reveal the meaning within the Sacred Scriptures
and how they apply to us today.Our
response to the readings and the homily, is faith which is expressed on Sundays
and Solemnities with the Creed.That
faith is then used along with hope and charity as we intercede for ourselves
and others in the Prayers of the Faithful.

The
Introductory Rites and the Liturgy of the Word, prepare us for the climax found
in the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

THE
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Jesus’
sacrifice of Himself on the Cross is made present to us again by the priest who
does what Jesus did at the Last Supper.

Within
the Liturgy of the Eucharist there are many parts with many subparts.In the Preparation of the Gifts, the altar is
prepared and the gifts of bread and wine are presented. These gifts represent
the offering of our lives, so we should bring our joys, sorrows, successes, and
struggles to the altar. While we desire to make ourselves into a perfect
offering to the Father, we can never accomplish this task alone, but we can
offer ourselves worthily in union with the perfect offering of Jesus on the
Cross.

The
Eucharistic Prayer begins with a dialogue. “The Lord be with you … and with
your spirit…”and concludes with the Great Amen where the community expresses
its assent of this prayer. Through this prayer, offered by the priest for the
people, Christ becomes present. Simple bread and wine become the Body, Blood,
Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. It is the highest prayer of the Church. As
such, it is this part of the Mass that should have our greatest attention.The Eucharistic Prayer includes the Preface,
the Sanctus, the Epiclesis, the Consecration, the Memorial Acclamation,
Offering, Intercessions, Doxology, and the Great Amen.

We
further prepare ourselves to receive Him in Holy Communion in the Communion
Rite.This rite includes:The Lord’s Prayer, the Rite of Peace, the
Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), and Holy Communion.

CONCLUDING
RITES

The
priest greets the people, blesses them, and then the priest (or deacon)
dismisses the people.At the end of Holy
Mass, we give thanks and praise to Almighty God and we go out to bring this
goodness to others through the conduct of holy lives.